Finding your ‘why’ to stick with losing weight

So, you’re one of the 500-plus Greene County residents who joined the 2018 Biggest Loser contest, and, like everybody else, you know you have the willpower to do it and win one of the top six prizes.

But, is willpower enough to get you through the hard times?

“Sometimes, people can feel unmotivated because they lose sight of why they’re making changes in the first place,” said Edwina Clark, R.D., head of nutrition and wellness at Yummly.

This post will guide you through a process to help you discover your personal “why,” or the belief that inspires you to do extraordinary things.

Every Jan. 1, millions of Americans set goals to get healthy or drop pounds and end up quitting after the first week. Why? I believe it’s because they didn’t have a strong enough reason WHY they want to do this in the first place.

Here’s what I’m talking about:

Many people say they want to drop pounds to feel better or look good in a swimsuit or pair of jeans. While those are OK short-term reasons WHY you want to shed pounds, what happens after you look good in your swimsuit or fit into your jeans?

Do you say “OK, I’m at my goal weight, now I can go back to my old eating habits”? Are you making excuses for not exercising because it’s too cold or because your kids have basketball games? Has eating healthy suddenly become inconvenient?

“I don’t have time to prepare meals, I’m too busy”

Or, maybe you’re one of those people who rationalize their behavior with excuses like: “I don’t have to drop weight to be happy.”

You can turn this frustrating scenario around by having a strong, specific reason WHY you want to make those changes to begin with.

When you have a strong, unique and specific reason WHY you want to shed pounds, your world begins to make more sense — inspiring you to do what others aren’t willing to do, which sets you up for long-term success.

For example, my strong, unique WHY is to live a healthy lifestyle because I want to stay prescription-drug-free and remain active well into my 90s. My father’s 95-year-old aunt went to work on Wall Street everyday! That reason drives every choice I make as well as the choices I will make in the future.

Should I eat the entire piece of cake or just one bite? Should I exercise after work or go out with my friends for a drink or two?

Not only will having a strong WHY help you build momentum in the beginning it will help you refocus after any setbacks you have along the way and there will always be setbacks. However, you have a choice: you can choose to quit or you can get right back on track immediately!

You know, sometimes, it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. Are you willing to change your life for good?